Magheraveely 1-1 Mountjoy United

Magheraveely and Mountjoy United couldn’t be separated as they played out a 1-1 draw at the Peace Link Centre in Clones.

The home side came into the game on hot form after dishing out a 4-0 blitz of Lisnaskea Rovers and a 6-1 demolition of Orchard Farm in Fivemiletown last week, but after taking the lead through a Patrick Sheridan strike before the hour mark, they were unable to build on their two-game win streak.

Tim Gallagher levelled for Mountjoy United to pick up their fourth point from four games.

Magheraveely manager Lewis Bennett gave credit to the visiting side but admitted his frustration at his side’s inability to not hold onto the lead.

“It was a game where we were only ever going to concede from a set piece and that's what we did in the end.

"The Mountjoy United goalkeeper produced one of the best goalkeeper performances I've seen in a long time, he was top class.

"The lads had all the ball, but Mountjoy sat with all men behind the ball and said ‘try and break us down,’ which we only really did once.

"They deserve full credit for how they played and we didn't really get into any sort of rhythm going throughout the game. Overall, it feels like two points lost rather than one point gained.”

While the home side enjoyed the majority of possession, chances were limited in the first-half.

Mountjoy were happy to sit back and chase on the large surface in Clones. United goalkeeper Gareth Barbour made a handful of saves in the opening 45 minutes with the best one coming from a shot via Joseph Williamson but he Barbour reacted instinctively to stop the effort.

At the other end, Mountjoy’s chances were limited as they conjured just a few breakaway attacks.

Tenacious work from Cormac Boyle saw him break into the box on 57 minutes, and when he was tackled, the ball bobbled in front of Sheridan drove an effort into the bottom corner for 1-0. Just five minutes later, it was all square again.

A free-kick sent into the Magheraveely box, dropped for Gallagher who finished from just a few yards out.

The hosts piled on the pressure with Andy Little, Sheridan and Boyle all forcing Barbour into crucial stops as Mountjoy held on to take a point back to Omagh.

Magheraveely face Enniskillen Athletic up next while Mountjoy host Newtownstewart United.